2012)

Posted on September 28, 2012 by daddyweekly

Note: The title originally stated Fri-Sat; this was typo; the festival is through Sunday. Thanks to J. for alerting me!

If taking your kids out of school to travel the world for a year or so sounds crazy, here is your local, low-risk, short-term alternative: The International Festival that is held annually at the Convention Center in downtown Raleigh. More than 11% of Wake County’s population, which is over 100,000 people (including Yours truly) are foreign-born, and want to share their heritage with you. While not specifically directed (only) at children, there are at least three areas that are perfectly suited to give little one a taste and a glimpse of the world:

First, and perhaps the best kept secret, are the dance performances. In some cultures (think India, Brazil), dance plays a much more important role than here. Where American expats abroad may teach their children American history and children’s songs or cook out on 4th of July, expats from other countries living here may in turn teach their children traditional folkloric dances. On the main stage, there is a different group performing every 10-15 minutes. From a Teen African Drum Ensemble to Lebanese Belly Dancing or Korean Percussion, there is a wide variety of exciting performances, many of them by earnest teens and adorable children.

Food is of course another great cultural bridge, and there are Food booths from just about any ethnic cuisine you’ve heard of. Thai, Lebanese, Italian and Mexican of course, but also Dutch, Turkish or French. Dig in, and let the little ones sample the foods that taste so different from their everyday meals.

Third, the festival does have a genuine “kids corner”, with the usual face painting and balloon animals and storytelling, all with an international twist.

The festival is taking place Friday evening and all day Saturday and Sunday; tickets are $8 and kids under 6 are free! At this low price, it is worth dropping in for even an hour or so sometime over the weekend, and see what is happening.

Korean Dance by Dance Photographer – Brendan Lally, used under the CC BY license

Pops in the City: NC Symphony at the Red Hat Amphitheater (9/9/2012)

Posted on September 7, 2012 by daddyweekly

NCS Double Bass Section (c) NC Symphony

Most kids have a natural affinity to classical music that seems to eventually disappear as they discover Katy Perry and Justin Bieber. If your kids have not yet reached the Bieber stage, they will have a lovely opportunity this Sunday night: The NC Symphony is playing at the Amphitheater, and it will be a nice program of lively and light classical fare. (Copland, Strauss, some patriotic stuff – crowdpleasers, not Shostakovich).

For anything like this, where your kids may be either mesmerized until the end or may want to go jump around half way through, a large outdoors venue is perfect – my 2-year-old loves always loves an upbeat waltz by Strauss, but he wants to jump around to it; so not quite ready yet for Meymandi hall.

The NC symphony starts playing at 7:30p, but the gates open at 6p. I suggest you get there early, since it will fill up if the weather is nice. No ticket required. Seating is general admission, first-come, first-served.

NC Symphony, “Red Hat” amphitheater (did you hear that?), Sunday evening 6p doors, 7:30p-9p concert.

ShopScotch and Saturday Market (9/8/2012)

Posted on September 7, 2012 by daddyweekly

The Saturday Market @ Rebus Works

Do you remember the “City Utopias” of yesteryear, wacky prophecies of skyscrapers that house everything from a farm to entertainment to work to living, with people never venturing outside anymore? Well, the trend scouts and city planners didn’t think it would look quite like this, but Rebus Works’ Saturday Market is very close. Music, Art, Food – you can easily stay the whole day if you want.

Saturday Market is taking place as usual from 9am to 2pm. Starting at noon, everything starts morphing into ShopScotch, which will go from 12p to 5p. In addition to the veggie stands and food trucks of the Saturday market, there will be a large craft vendor gathering (look on their facebook page for details), five bands and more food trucks.

If your kids are not quite ready yet for a full-blown Hopscotch Day party, head to Rebus. “Come for breakfast, stay for lunch, stretch it to dinner!”

Kids Band “Sandbox” playing Fred Fletcher Park (9/2/2012)

Posted on August 31, 2012 by daddyweekly

Fourth of July has fireworks, Labor Day has Concerts in the Park. Right? The lovely weather of September makes it perfect to pack up a blanket and a small cooler and head out to Fred Fletcher Park. If you live downtown and this does not ring a bell, boy, you’ve missed something. Scenery-wise, Fletcher it is probably the nicest, and certainly less crowded than Pullen Park. It does not have a lot of playground equipment, other than a sandbox and swings. And speaking of a sandbox, that is also the name of the band that is playing at Fred Fletcher on Sunday night. Lawn chairs and coolers welcome, alcoholic contents not. Sandbox has a nice website that gives you an idea about their style.

What I like is that they play a combination of traditional children songs as well as their own work. Some of their songs can be previewed on their website.

Sunday, Sept-2, 6pm. Fred Fletcher Park (820 Clay Street, Raleigh NC 27605)

Brooke Hatala playing Pullen Park, New King Rippers playing Mordecai Park (8/25/2012)

Posted on August 24, 2012 by daddyweekly

Ok, if you haven’t heard of singer-songwriter Brooke Hatala yet, don’t feel bad. Most of her career still lies ahead of her; after all, she is only 11 years old. That said, you should meet her while you can, because before you know it you will need a VIP backstage pass to get close to this young musician!

Brooke is based in Cary, and she will be performing live at Pullen Park tomorrow (Saturday) night 8p-9p. Watch some of her videos on YouTube to get a first impression – then head out to celebrate the end of summer. I usually avoid Pullen on the weekends and leave it to people driving in from everywhere. But the overcast weather is often a good deterrent, and I want to hear how Brooke sounds live.

If Jazz is more your thing, you ‘big night’ is tonight. The New King Rippers, a jazz combo is playing Music On The Porch at Mordecai Park. You can preview them on YouTube as well.

Via credit: I heard about Brooke Hatala via WRAL.com.

Alloy Orchestra’s Not for Kids Only (7/28/2012)

Posted on July 27, 2012 by daddyweekly

As our children probably grow up with interactive apps and games and movies that are at least 3D, they probably decry a regular movie theater experience as old school. Well, here’s your chance to show them what old school really is: Movies. Silent movies. In Black and White! And just like in the roaring twenties, the movies will be accompanied by live performers, and this is where the uniqueness comes in: Not some random piano player, but Alloy Orchestra, declared by film critic Roger Ebert to be “The best in the world at accompanying silent film.” They are performing at the NC Museum of Art, and there is special kids’ performance in the afternoon.

I previewed some of the movies they list in their program (they are all on Youtube), and Alloy Orchestra has a couple of excerpts on their website. I recommend you preview and decide if this is a fit for your kids – at any rate, the live music performance will make this an exciting experience. The 2pm program lasts about an hour, and is indoors.

NC Museum of Art, $12 for adults, $6 for 3-12. Tickets still available. Saturday, 2pm.

The image is Buster Keaton (obtained from the library of congress).

Explore Rhythm (7/14/2012)

Posted on July 13, 2012 by daddyweekly

Drums are probably the oldest musical instrument that humans use. (Maybe even older than voice!) Likewise, only of the earliest childhood experiences is the cause-effect relationship of hitting something and the resulting “bang”-sounds. Hit, hit, hit – bang-bang-bang, and you got music; at least in some people’s ears.

Music Explorium takes these ideas a step further and allows kids and adults to explore music in a variety of ways, from kids birthday parties to corporate retreat drum cycles. Every second Saturday, they are hosting a Family Rhythm Jam. Kids (3+) can explore the feeling of rhythm with a variety of percussion instruments and drums.

Music Explorium is less than half an hour from downtown Raleigh on Hwy 40. (One exit before Southpoint.) I haven’t been myself, but I’m looking forward to checking it out when my boy turns three.

5314 Hwy 55, Suite 107 Durham, NC 27713
919-484-9090 http://www.musicexplorium.com

Family Rhythm Jams take place every second Saturday of the month from 10-11. Kids 3 and older only.

Pilobolus Children’s Matinee (7/7/2012)

Posted on July 6, 2012 by daddyweekly

One of my passions that few people would guess is Contemporary Dance; I even took Modern Dance classes for a while (yes, yes, decades ago). There is probably no dance company better suited to get a young audience excited about dance performance than Pilobolus.

Pilobolus are regulars at the American Dance Festival, and performing this weekend at DPAC in Durham. On Saturday at 1pm, they are giving a special Children’s Matinee. Tickets are still available, and if your youngens are old enough to sit still for a while, they will be mesmerized by their magical movements and transformations.

Tickets and more information available here.

Independence Day 2012

Posted on July 3, 2012 by daddyweekly

Here some ideas to celebrate Independence Day:

Best fireworks for kids: First, if you can’t wait until tomorrow (or want the kids to see the fireworks and sleep in the next day), don’t be uppity and head out to Garner tonight. Their fireworks are earlier, the symphony is playing, and it is probably less crowded than “The ‘Works” in Raleigh tomorrow. Garner Independence Day Celebration, 5p-8p, July-3rd.

Best neighborhood parade: If you’re lucky enough to live in University Park, you have your very own Independence Day Parade right in your heighborhood. Firetrucks and Locopops; need I say more? University Park Independence Day Parade, 9:45am, July-4.

Best children’s parade: A bit out of the way, but specifically dubbed a children’s parade: Wake Forest Independence Day Children Parade, 10:30am, July-4.

Best parade that includes a splash-down from a fire truck: The Apex festivities include karaoke, inflatables and street performers in the morning and end with a parade and an opportunity to “cool off under the spray of the Apex Fire Department’s fire hose“. Town of Apex Olde Fashioned Fourth of July, activities 9a-12p, parade 12:00pm, July-4.

Best “let’s turn Independence Day into a three-day-festival”: As every year, Durham is hosting the Festival for the Eno with tons of activities. Festival for the Eno. Wed July-4, Sat. July-7, Sun. July-8.

And of course, there is also the Independence Day Celebration of the City of Raleigh which, following the overall trend, has moved from the fairgrounds to downtown and will take over Fayetteville Street and surrounding areas. Everything will be there, from a Reading of the Declaration of Independence to Arts Vendors to Circus to Music to Beer Tasting to, of course, at the end, Fireworks. This year, the Rotary Club will release 100 firefly lantern as a special treat at 9:30pm just before the fireworks. The ‘Works, 11am-10pm, July-4.

Also note that while the downtown museums (Science, History, Marbles) are open, the Art Museum is closed.

Fireworks Finish Up Raleigh Wide Open by abbyladybug, used under the CC BY-NC license

Kirby Derby (6/23/12)

Posted on June 22, 2012 by daddyweekly

I assume that by now, everybody has heard of Kirby Derby, the annual event in the Kirby-Bilyeu neighborhood featuring men in dresses, experimental soapbox designs and a deadly 90-degree curve at the bottom of a hill.

Kirby Derby is for sure the best soap-box race I’ve ever been to, and the surrounding events (a pinecar derby, a drag [queen] race and a parade) turn this into one of the most exciting small-neighborhood block parties across Raleigh.

The schedule of events is as follows:

4:00 Pinecar classic (a race for small boy-scouts-style pinecars)
5:30 Parade of all participants (drag race and Kirby Derby)
6:00 Drag race (as in drag queen, not as in dragster)
6:30 Kirby Derby (usually two runs and a final)
party with bands after that

Now mind you, while the Kirby Derby is decidedly a family event and while fans of all ages are welcome, all ages can have fun, including adults. If running drag queens, gory soapbox crashes and the occasional brown bag are too edgy for you, you might want to find an alternate program. But if this is all within your level of tolerance, you will have a wonderful Saturday afternoon that everybody will remember long after.

The event takes place in the Kirby-Bilyeu neighborhood, off of Western Blvd., where it intersect with Pullen Road. Check out the website for details.

The Daddy Weekly

Things to do with Kids in Raleigh, NC

Category Archives: Music